hot head

 

Hey hey. I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend. Mine was incredibly relaxing and I was actually looking forward to getting back into the work routine today.
 

To all of you who curl your hair on a regular basis, talk to me. I need to know what you use to protect your tresses from the heat of your appliances.

For years I was super lazy and would simply blow dry my hair and leave it in its naturally stick straight state. I have recently become a little obsessed with the curling iron (and wand) ever since my friend and hairstylist taught me how to curl properly, giving my hair that wavy, effortless appearance. If only it was effortless. Turns out I like curling my hair so much that I completely fried it over the past six months between hair cuts.

 

I could use what my friend sells at the salon, but am really looking for something budget-friendly - $30 or less. I've mentioned before that I have had great luck with Phyto hair products, so I might try out their Phytokeratine Reparative serum. I am definitely looking for other options though as I research, so if you use a serum and love it, please let me know!

the black keys

For my birthday, Blue Eyes gave me tickets to see a band I've been dying to see since being introduced to them with this video back in 2008. 

It's hard to believe that six years after that video was shot, they're selling out arenas like the Sprint Center. I love these guys from Akron, Ohio and can't wait to see them again. What an amazing show.

time saver

*So I'm just going to jump right in here and pretend I haven't been MIA for 3 weeks* 

I think most of you will agree with me that any tricks or tips to save some time these days is as appreciated as a J. Crew sale on pay day. No?

I bought this tube of Freedom polymer top coat from Julep over a month ago with the hopes it would give me a Shellac-like manicure for a fraction of the cost over time. With wedding season in full swing and making a commitment to tighten my budget, I spent $18 on the Julep top coat hoping my skepticism of its seemingly-radical product description would prove incorrect.

After over 10 at-home manicures, here is what I have found.

The Pros:
1. Dries extremely fast and effectively. Like I can take out laundry from the dryer five minutes after I've finished applying.
2. Gives nails the high-gloss gel look.
3. Comes off easily with regular non-acetone nail polish remover.

The Con:
1. Doesn't last nearly as long as a gel manicure. I get about 4 days before the color starts chipping.

For me, the multiple benefits outweigh the one disappointment I have had with this product.

PS: I was not compensated in any way for this review, just my thoughts and hope it's helpful for you!